Canmore hotel and conference centre gets green light

Situated between two natural-flowing creeks, the Malcolm Hotel and Conference Centre in Canmore will feature 124 rooms and 6,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space. Illustration courtesy dHZ Media.

First traditional hotel in town in 20 years

The Town of Canmore has approved plans for a 124-room hotel and conference centre at Spring Creek.

Following a year of record-breaking tourism, the Malcolm Hotel will help address accommodation for the increasing number of visitors to the town.

Located in the heart of Canmore, it will be the first traditional hotel built in the town in 20 years.

Situated between two natural-flowing creeks, the Malcolm will feature 124 rooms and 6,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space, along with hot tubs, a fitness centre and an outdoor pool that offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains from the second floor open-air mezzanine. A steakhouse restaurant and bar will be located in the hotel and will accommodate more than 175 people.

The hotel is named after King Malcolm III of Scotland, who was nicknamed “Canmore” – Gaelic for “Big Head.”

In 2015, Canmore reached a record number of overnight visitors, with the biggest increase seen over the summer months. According to the Canmore Hotel and Lodging Association, the occupancy rate for June, July and August last year was up by nine per cent compared to 2014. The association’s statistics show occupancy rates for hotels and motels from Jan. 1 to Aug. 30, 2015 were up by 10 per cent from the previous year.